Ceiling-based led auditorium pathway lighting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Auditorium pathways, such as vertical and horizontal aisle ways, are illuminated by light fixtures located above the pathways, the light fixtures comprising a plurality of LEDs whose light is focused into a light beam of a width selected to illuminate the pathway. In one embodiment, the light beam is configured such that it may be disposed between a plurality of patrons and a stage or screen to illuminate a pathway while remaining invisible to the patrons.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/256,496, filed Jan. 24, 2019, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/466,864, filed Mar. 23, 2017, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/372,161, filed Aug. 8, 2016, all three applications entitled, “Ceiling-Based Auditorium Pathway Lighting Apparatus,” the contents of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to LED light fixtures and more particularly to ceiling-based LED lighting apparatus for lighting pathways or aisle ways in, for example, auditoriums and motion picture theatres.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Auditorium lighting apparatus has been provided in the past, for example, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 9,596,740, assigned to Tempo Industries, LLC, Irvine, Calif., the assignee of the subject application.

SUMMARY

According to illustrative embodiments, auditorium pathways, such as vertical and horizontal aisle ways, are illuminated by light fixtures located above the pathways, the light fixtures comprising a plurality of LEDs whose light is focused into a light beam of a width selected to illuminate the pathway. According to an illustrative embodiment, the light beam is configured such that it may be disposed between a plurality of patrons and a stage or screen to illuminate a pathway while remaining invisible to the patrons.

According to an illustrative embodiment, the light fixtures may comprise a plurality of LEDs, a plurality of vertical baffles, and a plurality of first apertures, each first aperture being disposed between a pair of the vertical baffles and over a respective one of the LEDs. A glare shield is mounted over the plurality of baffles and has a plurality of second apertures therein, each second aperture overlying a respective one of the first apertures, and a lens is disposed between the second apertures and the LEDs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ceiling-based LED light fixture according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment in an assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a light output plot of an illustrative ceiling-based LED light fixture;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative theatre aisle way arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative ceiling-based LED light fixture 11 is shown in FIG. 1. The light fixture 11 includes a wiring rail platform or fixture base 13, and an LED circuit board mounting platform 15, which mounts an LED circuit board 17 carrying one or more LEDs, e.g. 19. In one embodiment, there may be twenty-one LEDs 19. The illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 further includes an LED horizontal baffle/aperture component 21, an LED glare shield 23, and a collimator lens 25.

The baffle component 21 has a plurality of rectangular vertical baffles, e.g. 22, with an aperture 26 for passing light located between each pair of vertical baffles 22. In one embodiment, the height H1, width W, and thickness T of the baffles 22 are, respectively, 0.5 inches high by 0.75 inches wide by 0.125 inches thick. In one embodiment, the baffles 22 are spaced 0.535 inches apart from one another to correspond with the spacing of the LEDs 19. In one embodiment, the apertures 26 are rectangular slits of width 0.064 inches but could have other widths or other shapes in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the glare shield 23 is trapezoidal in cross section and has dimensions A, B, C, D, E, as shown in FIG. 2 respectively of: 0.75, 1.00, 1.38 0.99 and 2.00 inches. The glare shield 23 has a plurality of apertures or slits 24 in its generally rectangular top surface 30. In one embodiment, these slits 24 are equally spaced apart from one another, and each slit 24 has dimensions of 0.375 inches wide by 0.75 inches long. In one embodiment, each aperture 24 is centrally positioned over one of the apertures 26 in the baffle 21. The apertures 24 may have other shapes in other embodiments, for example, such as circular.

In one embodiment, the collimator lens 25 is a Fresnel lens. In one embodiment, the collimator lens 25 is eleven inches long and slides into a horizontal slit 28 in the glare shield 23. In such an embodiment, the circuit board 17 may be 11.13 inches long. Different dimensions of course may be used in other embodiments.

In one illustrative embodiment, the circuit board mounting platform 15 may be mounted in conforming channels in the wiring rail platform 13. The horizontal baffle/aperture component 21 is positioned above the circuit board mounting platform 15 and the LEDs 19, and the LED glare shield 23 with collimator lens 25 in place is mounted down over the baffle/aperture component 21 so as to encase it.

In the alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the baffle/aperture component 21 and glare shield 23 may be formed as a single component 130, for example, by a 3D printing process. The single component 130 has baffles 122 and a slit 128 for receiving a lens such as lens 25 of FIG. 1. Apertures are formed between the baffles 122 as discussed in connection with FIG. 1. Bosses 133 for receiving screws or other mechanical fasteners are formed at each end of the component 130 to facilitate attachment of the component 130 to a mounting platform such as mounting platform 15 of FIG. 1. An optional shield 131 is also formed along a top edge of the component 130 in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, the wiring rail platform 13 may be an extruded metal material such as aluminum, and the circuit board mounting platform 19 is cast from aluminum. The horizontal baffle/aperture 25 may be formed, for example, of thermoplastic, and the glare shield 23 may be fabricated of polycarbonate. The collimator lens 25 may also be formed of polycarbonate. Other suitable materials can of course be used for all these components in other embodiments.

As noted above, in one embodiment, the baffle/aperture component 21 includes a plurality of rectangular baffle elements 22. In between each baffle element 22 is an aperture 26, each of which is positioned to allow passage of light generated by a respective one of the LEDs 19. In one embodiment, an aperture 26 is positioned over each LED 19. In one embodiment, the LED glare shield 23 includes a plurality of slits 24, which are each positioned over a respective one of the LEDs 19.

In operation, the collimating lens 25 focuses the light generated by the LEDS 19 into a narrow beam, the baffles 22 serve to cut-off or limit the exiting angle of light from the apertures, which would result in undesirable lateral spread of light, and the glare shield 23 blocks light reflected from the internal surfaces of the baffles 22 and the lens holder from being visible to an observer on the ground or floor when located more than a few feet from the resulting light pattern on the ground or floor.

In one embodiment, the circuit board 17 may be attached to the circuit board mounting platform 15 by thermal adhesive. In one embodiment, the circuit board mounting platform 15 pivotally engages one side of the wiring rail platform 13, rests on the other side, and is fastened with screws, for example, as illustrated in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 14/750,407 and Ser. No. 15/217,546, both incorporated by reference herein.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light fixture apparatus 11 may be mounted or positioned at a height of, for example, forty feet above a surface 37 to be illuminated. In one such embodiment, the baffle/aperture 21, glare shield 23, and collimator lens 25 are constructed to generate a narrow primary beam angle which is three feet wide at the surface 37 (an angle of 4.3 degrees), while having a limited stray light “spill zone” 61 of about six inches. With such an embodiment, theatre pathways three to five feet wide may be illuminated from a fixture 11 positioned forty feet above the theatre pathway. Other embodiments may be constructed to light similar width pathways from different heights, for example, such as thirty feet.

The light provided at the surface 37 in various embodiments may be of such an intensity that the light beam 60 may be positioned between patrons and a movie screen or stage, for example, to illuminate horizontal aisle ways, while not being visible to those patrons. In one embodiment, the fixture 11 may provide illumination of 0.025 foot candles (fc) at the surface 37. In one embodiment, full power on a 12 inch module 11 puts out 10 fc, and using appropriate electronic dimmers, can be adjusted down to 0.1 fc with a preferred level of >0.2 fc to achieve light levels compliant with National Building Code and similar requirements for egress and safety illumination within movie theater auditoriums and similar public spaces.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the arrangement of aisle ways in an auditorium or theatre where illustrative embodiments may find application. Such an arrangement may include first and second up and down aisle ways 41, 43 at respective sides of the auditorium and a horizontal aisle way 45 connecting the respective up and down aisle ways 41, 43. In typical cases, these aisle ways, e. g. 41, 43, may have widths in the range of three to five feet, and a length L of , for example, sixty feet, while the width of the horizontal aisle way 45 may be, for example, forty-five feet with a ceiling height of 30 to 40 feet. Light fixtures according to illustrative embodiments may be positioned or mounted in or at the ceiling of such an auditorium and employed to illuminate such pathways without disturbing the view of the stage or screen by patrons seated in the auditorium or theatre.

Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described illustrative embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Auditorium or theatre lighting apparatus configured to illuminate an aisle way, the aisle way being positioned above the aisleway and between a plurality of patrons seated closest to the aisle way and a stage or screen located in a front of the auditorium or theatre, the lighting apparatus comprising: a light fixture located above the aisle way of the auditorium or theatre and above the level of a seating area located in the auditorium or theatre; the light fixture comprising a plurality of LEDs and a light focusing lens, the light fixture being so structured as to generate a beam of light from the plurality of LEDs which has a width selected to illuminate a floor of the aisle way and which is invisible to said plurality of patrons when viewing said stage or screen wherein the aisle way is between three and five feet wide and wherein the light provided to the aisle way is at a level of 0.25 foot candles or less.
 2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 further configured to be located 30 feet or more above the aisle way.
 3. A method of illuminating a pathway in a theatre or auditorium, the pathway being located between a plurality of patrons seated nearest the pathway and a screen or stage to be viewed by the patrons, the method comprising: positioning a light fixture comprising a plurality of LEDs above the pathway and above the plurality of patrons; and generating illumination from the light fixture in the form of a light beam of a width selected to light a floor of the pathway while at the same time being invisible to said plurality of patrons when viewing said stage or screen.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising positioning the light fixture 30 feet or more above the aisle way.
 5. The method of claim 3 further comprising configuring the light fixture to illuminate a floor of a pathway which is between three and five feet in width.
 6. The method of claim 3 further comprising configuring the light fixture to provide light to the floor of said pathway which is at a level of 0.25 foot candles or less.
 7. The method of claim 3 further comprising: positioning the light fixture 30 feet or more above the aisle way; configuring the light fixture to illuminate an aisle way floor which is between three and five feet in width; and further configuring the light fixture to provide light to the floor of the aisle way which is at a level of 0.25 foot candles or less.
 8. Auditorium or theatre lighting apparatus configured to illuminate only an aisle way of the theatre or auditorium and comprising: a light fixture configured to mount at a ceiling level of an auditorium or theatre and comprising a plurality of LEDs and a light focusing lens and the light fixture being further structured so as to generate a beam of light from the plurality of LEDs which is of a width selected to illuminate a floor of the aisle way from said ceiling level and, which, when disposed between a plurality of patrons seated closest to the aisle way and viewing a stage or screen located in a front of the auditorium or in a front of the theatre, is invisible to those patrons.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the light fixture is configured to be located 30 feet or more above the aisle way; to illuminate an aisle way floor which is between three and five feet in width; and to provide light to the floor which is at a level of 0.25 foot candles or less.
 10. Light fixture apparatus for illuminating an auditorium or theatre aisle way, the aisle way being positioned between a plurality of patrons and a screen or stage of the auditorium or theatre, the light fixture comprising: a plurality of LEDs; a surface located above the LEDs which is continuous and opaque with the exception of a plurality of apertures located in the surface and a plurality baffles each positioned to project vertically from the surface; each aperture being disposed between a pair of the vertical baffles and over a respective one of the LEDs such that light from each LED passes through its respective aperture; a lens disposed above the plurality of apertures and the plurality of LEDs; wherein the lens is configured to focus the light generated by the plurality of LEDs and wherein the plurality of vertical baffles are configured to limit the exiting angle of light from the plurality of apertures; the light fixture apparatus further being configured to produce a beam width selected to illuminate the aisle way; wherein the baffles and lens are configured to generate a primary beam angle which is three to five feet wide at a surface of said aisle way; and wherein the light level provided to a said aisle way is in the range of 0.2 to 0.25 foot candles.
 11. The light fixture apparatus of claim 10 further configured such that said beam is invisible to said patrons when viewing said screen or stage.
 12. The light fixture apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of LEDs are mounted in a row on a circuit board.
 13. The light fixture apparatus of claim 12 wherein said row is a linear row.
 14. The light fixture apparatus of claim 10 wherein the light fixture apparatus is located at a ceiling level of the theatre or auditorium.
 15. The lighting apparatus of claim 14 wherein the lighting apparatus is configured to be located 30 feet or more above the aisle way. 